Life

KINCARDINE, Ont. -- The Bruce Power nuclear energy plant is using hawks to try to scare off the resident seagull population, which has been growing for several years and is beginning to encroach on the Bruce A site.

Bruce Power will have two or three Harris hawks on site to help control the seagull population over the next 90 days, according to Steve Bucciarelli, president of Predator Bird Services Inc.

The company hopes to relocate approximately 80% of the seagulls after the three months.

"The seagulls are a real nuisance to employees," said Bruce Power spokesman John Peevers.

He said the seagull droppings are everywhere, on cars, on buildings, on sidewalks, and are even landing on employees as they walk between buildings.

Predator Bird Services Inc. only has one Harris hawk on site at the moment, but it is already making the seagulls uncomfortable.

"She's doing a good job. As soon as she gets out of the vehicle, clouds of seagulls take off into the sky," said Bucciarelli.

The company, based in London, Ont., is licensed under the Commercial Falconry License and follows all Canadian Wildlife Services permits and regulations.

"Bruce Power is very proud of their green name, they don't want the seagulls hurt. Our hawks are going to scare the birds away, not eat them," said Bucciarelli.

The company has targeted seven buildings on site where the seagulls have been trying to nest.

Bruce Power has a resident bald eagle population which poses a large threat to the trained hawks.

"There has been a census done which counts the bald eagles at about 42, but there have been days when we've seen way more," Bucciarelli said.

The bald eagles at Bruce Power are attracted to the fish habitat, which is created by the warm water coming out of the plant. However, the bald eagles are only an issue for the trained birds of prey, not for Bruce Power. "Wild eagles are hesitant of people, they will stay out on the ice," Bucciarelli said.

The Bruce plant is located near Kincardine on the eastern shore of Lake Huron.